Zambia’s electoral commission suspended vote counting on Friday, a day after presidential and parliamentary elections, following reports of violence against election officials and the theft of ballot papers.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia said the suspension would be reviewed within 24 hours. It was not immediately clear whether the move would delay the announcement of final results, which had been expected on Monday.
Chief Electoral Officer Brown Kasaro said election workers had been targeted in violent incidents and that marked ballot papers had been stolen in some areas.
“The violence is targeted at poll staff, and in some instances has resulted in the theft of marked ballot papers in ballot boxes,” Kasaro told reporters in Lusaka.
President Hakainde Hichilema is seeking a second term, with opposition leader Brian Mundubile seen as his main challenger.
No official presidential results have yet been announced, although preliminary constituency-level counts have begun emerging.
Mundubile claimed on Friday that information received by his campaign from polling stations and counting centres showed that he had won the election. He did not provide evidence to support the claim and urged the electoral commission to release and verify the results without further delay.
“We therefore view the continued delay in the transparent announcement and verification of presidential results with grave concern,” he said in a video posted on social media.
Hichilema, meanwhile, said he had received what he described as “encouraging results” but called on supporters to remain calm and wait for the official outcome.
“Let us remain peaceful, patient and patriotic as we await the official outcome from those entrusted with managing the vote,” he said.
Zambia has a history of regular multi-party elections that have generally remained peaceful, though previous contests have seen isolated outbreaks of violence.
Ahead of this year’s vote, opposition parties and civil society organisations raised concerns over what they described as increasing restrictions on opposition campaigning and political activity. The government rejected allegations that it had sought to suppress its rivals.
The suspension leaves the closely watched election in uncertainty as authorities assess security conditions and determine when counting can resume.